Militants intend to destroy all churches in the seized city of Mosul in northern Iraq

Mosul, June 17, 2014

    

Terrorists from “The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (Isis) group intend to destroy all churches in the city of Mosul in northern Iraq (396 kilometres from Baghdad), which they have seized, reports ITAR-TASS.

According to the Al Mayadeen TV channel, the armed extremists who follow the doctrine of religious intolerance (takfir), announced this on Monday to Mosul residents through loudspeakers, installed on the automobiles with black flags, which are moving around the city, informing the population about orders of the islamists.

On June 14 takfirists executed in the city 12 sheikhs-theologians for refusing to swear allegiance to them. The sheikhs were executed by shooting before the Al-Isra Mosque. Then the ban on selling alcoholic drinks and cigarettes was declared and women were ordered to wear abayas – a traditional outer garment worn by Muslim women.

From today, Christians of Mosul will most probably be persecuted, reports Al Mayadeen. In the Syrian city of Rakka (Ar-Raqqah) on The Euphrates, where the ISIS has been throwing its weight around for more than a year, Christian men are ordered to pay jizyah in gold – a tax levied per capita on some categories of subjects for refusal to embrace Islam.

Three days ago takfirists already attacked an Armenian Church in Mosul. Their appearance in the second largest city of Iraq has provoked a mass outflow of population to Erbil – the capital of the Iraqi Kurdish autonomy.

Over 600,000 residents have moved there. In Mosul (1.8 million people) under Saddam Hussein the number of Christians reached 30% of the population. Assyrians, Nestorians, Chaldeans, who belong to ancient Oriental Churches, live here in addition to Armenians.

There are several ancient churches in the city: the 13th century St. Peter’s Cathedral (Es Sefa), the 8th century St. Thomas’ Chapel, Al-Tahira Monastery (of the Most Pure Mother of God) and a number of other churches. Mosul is also famous for its mosques, one of which is built on the site of the Biblical Prophet Jonah’s tomb.

6/20/2014

See also
5 assyrians, including two nuns, missing in Mosul 5 assyrians, including two nuns, missing in Mosul 5 assyrians, including two nuns, missing in Mosul 5 assyrians, including two nuns, missing in Mosul
Two Chaldean nuns from the Daughters of Mary Order, Sister Miskintah and Sister Utoor Joseph, as well as Hala Salim, Sarah Khoshaba and Aram Sabah have not been heard from for nearly two days. Iraqi Christians flee homes amid militant push Iraqi Christians flee homes amid militant push Iraqi Christians flee homes amid militant push Iraqi Christians flee homes amid militant push
"I'm not going back," said Lina, who fled Mosul with her family as the militants swept in and came to Alqosh, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) to the north. ISIS Expands Control, Begins Persecuting Christians in Mosul ISIS Expands Control, Begins Persecuting Christians in Mosul ISIS Expands Control, Begins Persecuting Christians in Mosul ISIS Expands Control, Begins Persecuting Christians in Mosul
AINA contacted a former member of the Iraqi Parliament, whose identity cannot be revealed for his safety, who said "The Mosul provincial government was in collusion with ISIS. The innocent citizens of Mosul are paying the price of the manipulations of Atheel and Osama al-Nujaifi." Thousands of Christians Flee as ISIS Militants Burn, Loot Churches in Captured Iraqi City Thousands of Christians Flee as ISIS Militants Burn, Loot Churches in Captured Iraqi City Thousands of Christians Flee as ISIS Militants Burn, Loot Churches in Captured Iraqi City Thousands of Christians Flee as ISIS Militants Burn, Loot Churches in Captured Iraqi City
Christians in Mosul city in northern Iraq are fleeing en masse with others, as militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, who captured the city last week, are now looting and burning churches and forcing all women to wear the Islamic veil. The Cleansing of Iraq's Christians Is Entering Its End Game The Cleansing of Iraq's Christians Is Entering Its End Game The Cleansing of Iraq's Christians Is Entering Its End Game The Cleansing of Iraq's Christians Is Entering Its End Game
The government of Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, fell overnight to the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, also called the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Mosul's panic-stricken Christians, along with many others, are now fleeing en masse to the rural Nineveh Plain, according to the Vatican publication Fides. The border crossings into Kurdistan, too, are jammed with the cars of the estimated 150,000 desperate escapees. Christians in Kurdish Iraq Christians in Kurdish Iraq Christians in Kurdish Iraq Christians in Kurdish Iraq
Christians of Kurdistan, including those who fled Bagdad to settle in Kurdistan, are enjoying a stable and secure life in the region.
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